What is Evidence Based Practice?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) or evidence based practice (EBP), is the judicious use of the best current evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. EBP also integrates clinical expertise and takes patient desires, values, and needs into consideration.

Dr. David Sackett and his colleagues at McMasters University in Ontario, Canada, initially proposed EBM.

EBP differs slightly from EBM, in that it is an umbrella term of sorts; it encompasses evidence-based medicine, evidence-based nursing, evidence-based physical therapy, evidence-based dentistry, etc.

Interested in learning more about EBP?

Duke University Medical Center Library has produced an excellent EBP tutorial.